THE WOMEN IN MINING ISSUE | MARCH 2020
FOREWORD
Women’s potential to make an impact in mining Women have the potential to change the face and trajector y of the mining industr y in South Africa. By Thabile Makgala* Thabile Makgala believes that women have the potential to advance the mining industry (Credit: Philip Mostert Photography)
M
y view is that this is a change we should and need to support. However, for women to meaningfully participate and contribute to the industry, we need it to be robust, and enabling for women to thrive. There is a strong business case for gender diversity. A diverse workforce has been shown to create a more inclusive culture. Diverse people bring diversity of thought to organisations, which results in better decision-making, stronger governance and improved economic performance. It is important for mining companies to create policies that drive a gender mix of new graduate intake and that women are given fair treatment when promotional opportunities arise in the workplace. It is also vital that the industry better promotes itself to students at school level before they reach university, so that a career in the mining industry is a consideration. Digitalisation, automation and AI will impact gender diversity in the future, as the changes are shifting the type of work being conducted. These changes will allow for operating equipment remotely, away from mine sites, which may be attractive to people who had not previously considered mining due to the physical strength needed to perform some activities in traditional mining operations.
Proactive policies and understanding Before we reach that future, however, we need proactive diversity policies, a workplace culture that is female-friendly, policies to deal with sexual harassment and gender discrimination in the workplace, and it is vital that men understand the challenges women face and actively support equality. We also need deliberate action that is targeted at levelling the playing field and providing opportunities to women in the industry. Pay parity between men and women should be a focus; the pay gap between men and women should be eradicated and we desperately need more There is a strong women in senior leadership roles to act as examples and mentors to other business case for women, and to influence important gender diversity. A diverse company decisions and take the workforce has been industry forward. shown to create a more As a woman who is passionate about the industry and the role women can inclusive culture.� play in advancing it, I equally believe that men and women in the industry have different strengths and qualities that, when combined, complement each other and have the ability to benefit all who work in mining. *Thabile Makgala is chairperson of Women in Mining South Africa (WiMSA).
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